Good news and bad news on DADT

By
Greg Sargent

Harry Reid just talked to reporters about the timeline of don't ask don't tell, New START, and other last-minute initiatives. For those who want to see DADT repealed, there was both good news and bad news.

The good news: Reid appeared to commit to holding the vote on the stand-alone repeal bill. And he vowed to prolong the session if necessary to get it and other things done.

The bad news: He said he might not schedule the DADT repeal vote before Christmas. This has aides on the Hill worried.

Asked if he would bring up DADT repeal to a vote, Reid said: "I don't know if I'll bring it up before Christmas." But he also clarified that the Senate would hold a vote on DADT and START "before this Congress ends."

Even better, Reid added: "We are in session, if necessary, up to January 5th. That is the clock our Republican colleagues need to run out. It's a long clock."

One Senate aide involved with the talks points out, however, that not holding the vote on DADT before Christmas is taking a big risk.

"The problem is that we could lose votes with members not returning after Christmas," the aide tells me. "This would be extremely risky, particularly now, when we have the votes."

The worry is that all it would take to derail repeal is for two or three Senators who support DADT to fail to return to the Capitol. With the current count of Senators supporting DADT repeal hovering at around 61, there obviously isn't much room for error. Simply put, repealing DADT is not a huge priority for some Senators, even if they support it. So postponing the vote is a risk -- particularly when the votes are there to get this done right now.

This, among other reasons, is why Senator Joe Lieberman and some Senate aides want Reid to start the debate and vote on DADT repeal this weekend. There's no reason why it can't be double-tracked with the START treaty. And it would only take a few days. The only problem appears to be that the White House, as much as it wants DADT repealed, has placed a higher priority on START. So Reid is keeping the decks clear for START -- even if it puts DADT repeal at risk.

No question, it's great that Reid committed to the DADT vote. But let's face it, if the vote gets postponed until after Christmas, this is going to be a nail-biter right down to the wire.

I am almost certain that the Senate will not pass this repeal of DADT this year. Trying to rush this through without a thorough debate is as totally irresponsible as it is unnecessary. May cooler heads prevail on this; may the selfish partisan political efforts of the liberal left be thwarted in their attempts to tinker with the military as if it were just another societal entity.

The new Commandant of the Marine Corps has recognized that this repeal of DADT will have deleterious effects on the combat troops and he has said so. Secretary Gates and Admiral Mullen, in contrast to the courage of the Marine Commandant, lack the spine to stick up for our military and, instead, have gone treasonously over to the side of the liberal left and the activist gays. They have effectively surrendered the trust given to them to protect the military from partisan politics. There is no room for politics affecting the military and especially so in time of war.

I can remember no president--ever--who has used the US military as pawns to assuage his political supporters. I detest Obama for that.

President Obama, with not a single day of military service--which in itself is contemptible considering his position--made thoughtless and selfish campaign promises which he determined necessary in order to garner every possible vote and ingratiated himself to a vocal minority by promising to end DADT without giving a modicum of thought as to the consequences. He offered up the United States military as a sacrifice to allay their concerns, cave in to their selfish demands, mostly the effected ground troops of the Army and Marines as hostages to gay activists who promised their vote--and political pain if he did not bow to their unsavory, detestable demands.

Now, at a time when our military is as heavily engaged as it has been for more than forty years, at a time when individual troops are ordered to repeated deployments to the war zones, now in a time of military uncertainty and maximum commitment, is the wrong time for our politicians to advocate for a social engineering experiment by endorsing an end to the current don't ask, don't tell policy.

Neither the president nor an overwhelming preponderance of those in Congress
have served a single day in our country's military. For them now to pander to a
vocal minority seeking a liberal interpretation of society's rules is disturbing and quite revealing as to the total lack of any consideration of the residual effects of their actions.

To politicize our military in a time of war is as incredibly contemptible as it is indisputably ignorant of the military as an institution, a separate and distinct body tasked with the most crucial tasks of defending our nation in a time of war.

And, if DADT passes, another travesty will have been done. Imagine, with all that is going on in the world, Congressional uberliberals are pushing to pass a damaging change to our current policy which is adequate as is.

Republicans will paralyze the Senate floor for 50 hours by forcing clerks to read every single paragraph of the 1,924-page, $1.1 trillion omnibus spending bill.

Senate clerks are expected to read the massive bill in rotating shifts around the clock — taking breaks to drink water and pop throat lozenges — to keep legislative business on track, according to a Democratic leadership aide.

The bill is so long that it took the Government Printing Office two days to print it.

_________________________

Time to forget about MASSIVE SPENDING

Time to forget about the liberal agenda

Time to go home and let the American People be represented by the people they ELECTED.

We have to ratify START now, if we are to have any credibility left on the world stage, when we talk about preventing other nations from becoming nuclear powers.

It will not matter one damn bit what sexual orientation we are, if all our descendants get wiped out in a nuclear holocaust.

We can only get away with playing Russian Roulette with Nukes, so many times, before we blow ourselves to smithereens.

Yes; repeal DADT, but for cripes sake, not at the expense of putting us on a path to where the entire world might get wiped out, once some megalomaniac comes to power, in some nation with massive amount of nukes at his command.

If the START agreement is not ratified now, it will not be ratified after Christmas, or when the Republicans return in January. There will not be enough votes to ratify it then.

What was it that Robert Oppenheimer said: "Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds"?

"Yes; repeal DADT, but for cripes sake, not at the expense of putting us on a path to where the entire world might get wiped out, once some megalomaniac comes to power, in some nation with massive amount of nukes at his command."

dennis: "The new Commandant of the Marine Corps has recognized that this repeal of DADT will have deleterious effects on the combat troops and he has said so."

The Commandant of the Marine Corp should publicly thank the very first injured service member of the Iraq war. He is a retired Marine. He stepped on a mine, lost his leg, and was awarded the Purple Heart. And he's gay.

I like how SBJ put electing homophobes John McCain and Sharron Angle ahead of gay rights, but now he keeps insisting that repealing DADT should take priority over ratifing the START treaty that will give the world it's best chance to bring the existential threat of nuclear weapons under control.

Gee, and here I thought it was a politician's job to actually debate and vote on legislation. They have enough damn vactations and lobbying trips--far nore than the average American.
It's sad that the media doesn't even point out the fact that members of congress routinely leave town on their own accord completely disregarding their duty to govern the country. Very, very few Americans besides politicians have this luxury. Completely disgraceful!

"...I thought it was a politician's job to actually debate and vote on legislation."

Everyone's a comedian. Nobody thinks that and you don't either. Crony capitalism is a well oiled machine. Debate...you mean with words? Money talks. That used to be a joke, but the Republicans didn't think it was funny. The strict constructionists of the Roberts' Court said "Money Talks" is clearly legible in the US Constitution.

The GOP will try to tank DADT repeal by using "senatorial privelege" to require that other bills be read in full. If Republicans do make it so there can't be a fair and open Senate vote on DADT repeal before the break, voters should hold the GOP accountable.

What are the terms under which DADT can be repealed?
There's a whole lot more to consider than just taking a vote and declaring DADT "gone", and expecting any change to take place immediately.

How will the UCMJ be changed.....IF DADT is actually repealed? We haven't heard a word about that. Homosexuals will still have a code of conduct to which they must adhere. Gays won't be 'in charge' of the military services, they won't be the ones setting the new 'rules', even if they think they will be.
There must be new rules & regs for ALL soldiers. I'm more worried about those rules & regs to protect heterosexual soldiers from gay soldiers who believe any repeal of DADT would make them 'superior' to everyone else---even their company commanders. And yes, there WILL be homosexual soldiers who abuse a repeal of DADT for their personal agenda.

Silly Dims, the voters have already held a party accountable: the Dims lost 6 senators in the last election.

The Senate already voted against repeal of DADT law TWICE this year. Once in September, and again just last week. Yet for some reason you get a professional WaPo Pollyanna like Greg Sargent still shilling for "repeal DADT" as if it is going to happen ... or even come to a vote in the lame duck session. Hilarious.

@Liam-still "Yes; repeal DADT, but for cripes sake, not at the expense of putting us on a path to where the entire world might get wiped out, once some megalomaniac comes to power, in some nation with massive amount of nukes at his command."

"I like how SBJ put electing homophobes John McCain and Sharron Angle ahead of gay rights, but now he keeps insisting that repealing DADT should take priority over ratifing the START treaty that will give the world it's best chance to bring the existential threat of nuclear weapons under control."

What makes you think that the new START treaty will do any of the things you describe above? It may have some modest value in terms of our relations with the Russians and with verification and securing of their decommissioned nuclear stockpile (which they were doing anyway for their own reasons), but it has no value in terms of states such as Pakistan, North Korean and Iran, all of whom have or are pursuing nuclear weapons because it is in their national interest to do so.

The vote to repeal DADT is a no brainer, and needs no debate. Just do it.

I know the GOP and the ultra-conservatives in the U.S. are in favor of keeping a policy that is unconstitutional in place. But call them on it. If the repeal vote fails, let the courts impose a solution. Let's get on with it.

(START) has no value in terms of states such as Pakistan, North Korean and Iran, all of whom have or are pursuing nuclear weapons because it is in their national interest to do so.
Posted by: jnc4p | December 16, 2010 7:48 PM
----- ----- -----

Absolutely. Because he has completely failed to foil the ever-advancing Iran, Obama needs a foreign policy victory somewhere, anywhere. So he's chosen to highlight our capabilities and lessen them against Putin's.

Sometimes I think Obama is in some weird time warp. While he's failing miserably against the real time threats from Iran, North Korea, and Pakistan, Obama strikes a deal with our old adversary, Russia.

ALL US CITIZENS HAVE THE CIVIL RIGHT IS SERVE IN THE MILITARY " USA OATH OF ALLEGIANCE," 8 C.F.R. Part 337 (2008)) THIS LAW SHOULD BE MOVED INTO THE NATIONAL SECURITY ACT ITSELF ASAP

I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion;

THE US CONSTITUTION 11TH AMENDMENT, NO FOREIGN LAWS OVER US CITIZENS PERIOD

* allegiance to the United States Constitution,

* renunciation of allegiance and laws to any foreign country to which the immigrant has had previous allegiances to

* defense of the Constitution against enemies "foreign and domestic"

* promise to serve in the United States Armed Forces when required by law (either combat or non-combat)

* promise to perform civilian duties of "national importance" when required by law

RELIGIOUS LAWS (LEVITICAL/ CHURCH/ ISLAM SHARIA etc) DO NOT GIVE HUMAN EQUAL PROTECTION OF THE LAW, TO WOMEN/ CHILDREN/ UNBELIEVERS/ SAME SEXERS, AND OTHERS THEY CALL CHILDREN OF THE AL DAJJAL ANTI-CHRIST ie ( SRFM/ TEMPLAR CRUSADE WARS/322NWO/ BC-GROVE/ OTO etc DEATH PENALTIES IN THE NAME OF "GOD" ), THEY OFFEND THE BALANCE EQUALITIES (SCALES OF JUSTICE/ MERCY) OF THE ARTICLES / BILL OF RIGHTS AND AMENDMENTS IN THE US CONSTITUTION, OF WHICH IT BY THE WAY THE DIEST MADE SURE THE CONSTITUTION DOES NOTE MENTION ANY "GOD etc"

The First Amendment must Balance with the Fourteenth Equal Protection clause, the Thirteenth Anti-Slavery Servitude, SEPARATION OF RELIGION AND STATE, 1964 CIVIL RIGHTS ACT, please review: FREEDOM OF SPEECH/ RELIGION/ HAS LIMITS ON LIFE ,LIMB ,PROPERTY ,THE COURT LAW DOCTRINES SUCH AS : FIGHTING WORDS, CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER,& 11TH WHICH BARS FOREIGN LAWS

DO XTIANS BOMB CLINICS etc? DO XTIANS SEND TERRORIST LETTERS TO THE US GOVERNMENT??? DO XTIANS ENCOURAGE ATTACKS ON SAME SEXERS??? DID THE CHURCH START SLAVERY IN THE US AND EUROPE??? DO XTIANS QUOTE FROM A BOOK (BIBLE) THAT ENDORCES GENOCIDE?/ SLAVERY AND CHILD MARRIAGES TO ADULTS??? POLYGAMY??? INCEST??, A MAN IS ALLOWED TO SALE HIS WIFE AND KIDS INTO SLAVERY TO PAY OFF HIS DEBTS..STONEING TO DEATH DISOBIDIENT KIDS(CHILD
ABUSE)...GOOGLE: BIBLE RAPE LAWS ,the shock of whats it says about RAPE OMG....THE SONG OF SOLOMON (INCEST/PORNO ).....SOME FAMILY VALUE HUH, RELIGION IS NO EXCUSE TO BE INHUMANE PERIOD, HUMANE CIVILITY, NOT EXTREMISM WHICH ALWAYS ENDS IN INHUMANE PUNISHMENT.

ie XTIANS USE OF LEVITICUS ,BIBLE AND SHARIA TO BLOCK DADT REPEAL AND SAME SEX MARRIAGE CONTRACTS , THE US CONSTITUTION LAW DOCTRINE CALLED "FREEDOM OF CONTRACT" ALLOWS ADULT US CITIZENS TO ENTER INTO CONTRACTS, XTIANS MIS-LEADING USE OF FOREIGN RELIGIOUS LAWS TO BLOCK BOTH CONSTITUTIONAL/CIVIL RIGHTS OF THOSE SAME SEX (XXY MALE/ INTERSEX )US CITIZENS ARE UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND TREASONOUS, DUE TO THE FACT THAT THOSE RELIGIOUS LAWS ARE FOREIGN LAWS FROM FOREIGN COUNTRIES, NOT NATIVE AMERICAN LAWS THAT ARE THE ONLY RELIGIOUS LAW FROM THE USA, THE US CONSTITUTION FORBIDS BOTH FOREIGN/ RELIGIOUS LAWS BEING ENFORCED ON US CITIZENS, THEY FAIL THE HUMAN CIVILITY EQUALITY TEST , THEY PRESENT A "CLEAR & PRESENT DANGER" TO BOTH US CITIZENS AND NON-CITIZENS, HERE ON US SOIL PERIOD

COMITY (COMITAS) LAW DOCTRINE IS A RULE OF COURTESY, BUT NOT A RULE OF LAW,
RELIGIOUS/FOREIGN LAWS FAILS THE TEST OF EQUALITY/ BILL-CIVIL RIGHTS OF US CITIZENS, " In the exercise of one's religion one, CANNOT INSIST ON CONDUCT WHICH THREATENS important interest on the society in an UNREASONABLE MANNER. The courts must, therefore, BALANCE the Importance of a religious exercise claim against the State interest involved in a rule or practice which prevents or hinders the exercise 367US488,489. LEVITICAL/SHARIA DEATH LAWS ARE UNREASONABLY CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENTS , OF WHICH THE FOUNDING FATHERS LEFT EUROPE BECAUSE OF RELIGION.

RELIGIOUS DEATH LAWS DOSE NOT PASS THE 14AMEND. EQUAL PROTECTION OF THE LAWS, LAW DOCTRINES OF [RATIONAL BASIS TEST 431US471,489 427US307,314, STRICT SCRUTINY 403US365, 405US330, 411US1,16-17 , COMPELLING INTEREST 394US618,634 AND SUSPECT CLASSIFICATION 411US1,28, INTERSEX/ XXY MALES IS GENETICS THEREFORE A RACE 379US184,191 AS ALCHEMY TEXT SAY THERE ARE THREE SEXES MALE-FEMALE-& HERMAPHRODITE CALLED THE REBIS SPICES WHICH IS BOTH THE OLDEST FROM WHICH "ADAM" WAS CREATED AS, AND WHAT MAN WILL BECOME AGAIN, SEE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT ON GENETICS PROTECTIONS, AGAIN FORIEGN/ RELIGIOUS LAWS ARE NO EXCUSE TO BE INHUMAN NOR A TERRORIST AND JIM CROW LIKE PERIOD

THE US CONSTITUTION 1ST AND 11TH US CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

NO FOREIGN LAWS OVER US CITIZENS PERIOD,( RES IPSA LOQUITUR, RES JUDICATA) IT BARS THE INCORPORATION OF ANY FOREIGN LAWS INCLUDING RELIGIOUS LAWS (SHARIA-LEVITICAL- VATICAN etc) FREE EXERCISE CLAUSE they must be of HUMANE CIVILITY (SECULAR in purpose and effect see Law Doctrines ESTABLISHMENT CLAUSE/ IN TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION, BY ANY OF THE 4 SEPARATE POWERS (EXECUTIVE/ CONGRESSIONAL/ JUDICIAL AND BY VOTE OF THE US CITIZENS ) FOREIGN INHUMANE DEATH LAWS, IT'S PROHIBITED AND US CONSTITUTIONALLY INAPPROPRIATE

AS THE US CONSTITUTION PROHIBITS INAPPROPRIATE LAWS WHICH ARE NON-SECULAR HUMANE CIVILITY IN THEIR PURPOSE AND EFFECTS ON US CITIZENS, SHARIA-LEVITICUS ARE NOT SECULAR
SEE BILL OF ATTAINDER, EX POST FACTO, ART.1sec.9Cl 3& sec10 Cl 1&3 " NO STATE SHALL...ENTER INTO ANY TREATY, ALLIANCE OR CONFEDERATION.....NO STATE SHALL...ENTER INTO ANY AGREEMENT OR COMPACT WITH ANOTHER STATE, OR WITH A FOREIGN POWER,....., 381US437,448, AS A RELIGIOUS LAW WOULD BE A SUBTLE JUDICIAL TREATY OF WHICH BOTH NO STATE NOR JUDGE CAN DO , BOTH FOREIGN /RELIGIOUS INEQUALITY/ DEATH LAWS-CUSTOMS ARE CRUEL,UNCONSTITUTIONAL

It's going to get done. It shouldn't get done, but it will. Fifty years from now, when historians write about this lame duck session, it won't be earmarks, or taxes or START that gets the write-up. It will be gays in the military. This is a huge cultural crossroads, and not one for the better. For the first time in recorded history, a society is conferring legalized identity and the "civil rights" that go along with it on the basis of behavior. In addition, joining the military for the first time will have become a right. How many gays in the future do you think will be rejected because of flat feet, or poor eyesight? I suspect precious few. Not all change is good.

As a former officer with 24 years active duty service (retired in 2005), I cannot support full repeal of DADT. My objection is based solely on the impact to Unit Cohesion in front-line (i.e. helmets & rifles, boots on the ground) combat units. I suppose I could support a repeal for billets that aren't "front-line" which would open most of the Navy and Air Force, and about 30% of the Army. For those that aren't familiar with Unit Cohesion, it's the glue that holds small combat units together. It's a sort of bonding (emotional, but distinctly non-sexual) that occurs when small groups are put under extreme duress. Introduce the possibility of love, romance, sexual attraction (gay or straight) into these units, and Unit Cohesion will suffer.

This Senate, repudiated by the voters, has no moral legitimacy. In the words of Oliver Cromwell:

Dissolution of the Long Parliament by Oliver Cromwell given to the House of Commons, 20 April 1653

It is high time for me to put an end to your sitting in this place, which you have dishonored by your contempt of all virtue, and defiled by your practice of every vice; ye are a factious crew, and enemies to all good government; ye are a pack of mercenary wretches, and would like Esau sell your country for a mess of pottage, and like Judas betray your God for a few pieces of money.

Is there a single virtue now remaining amongst you? Is there one vice you do not possess? Ye have no more religion than my horse; gold is your God; which of you have not barter'd your conscience for bribes? Is there a man amongst you that has the least care for the good of the Commonwealth?

Ye sordid prostitutes have you not defil'd this sacred place, and turn'd the Lord's temple into a den of thieves, by your immoral principles and wicked practices? Ye are grown intolerably odious to the whole nation; you were deputed here by the people to get grievances redress'd, are yourselves gone! So! Take away that shining bauble there, and lock up the doors.

The messages sent to Washington on November 2nd: “We’re tired of your games. We’re tired of your spending. And we’re tired of your flaunting and ignoring the will of the people.”

The midnight, backroom deals and Christmas Eve votes by people who were voted out of office demonstrates how arrogant, unremorseful and unethical these charlatans truly are, and the sooner they’re gone from our sight, the better.

Please contact your State Representatives and ask them to support an “Application to Congress for a Convention to Propose a Federal Balanced Budget Constitutional Amendment.” Learn more at www.reclaimliberty.us “Laus Deo”

I fail to understand the love for and allegiance to the gay community by Reid and other members of the US Senate. Obama's fielty to the LGBT community is documented in his behavioral patterns. When Obama first voiced his intention to repeal DADT, I gathered together my first hand information relative to gays in the military. Their presence has a negative effect on good order and discipline at every level. I sent a considerable amount of first hand evidence to the POTUS, the Chairman of the JCS, Adm Mullen, the Chairman of each service and to Senator Carl Levin expressing my opposition to gays serving in the military. NO RESPONSE-NONE! The latest breach in Good order by J. Assange's Gay PFC source should be enought to settle the argument once and for all. Gays lack the moral fiber to serve faithfully. The troops are opposed, the Chiefs are opposed and Americans with the exception of about 3 or 4 per cent are opposed. This is not a question of fairness; Gays are still free to PURSUE Happiness. They will not find it in the military.

I fail to understand the love for and allegiance to the gay community by Reid and other members of the US Senate. Obama's fielty to the LGBT community is documented in his behavioral patterns. When Obama first voiced his intention to repeal DADT, I gathered together my first hand information relative to gays in the military. Their presence has a negative effect on good order and discipline at every level. I sent a considerable amount of first hand evidence to the POTUS, the Chairman of the JCS, Adm Mullen, the Chairman of each service and to Senator Carl Levin expressing my opposition to gays serving in the military. NO RESPONSE-NONE! The latest breach in Good order by J. Assange's Gay PFC source should be enought to settle the argument once and for all. Gays lack the moral fiber to serve faithfully. The troops are opposed, the Chiefs are opposed and Americans with the exception of about 3 or 4 per cent are opposed. This is not a question of fairness; Gays are still free to PURSUE Happiness. They will not find it in the military.

Repeal of DADT will be a disaster for the armed forces if homos & lesbians aren't totally banned from serving in
Uncle Sam's uniform.

Prior to the huckster from Hope, Willie, moving into the WH those pathethic creatures, homos & lesbians, were forbidden to wear the uniform.

In Viet-Nam some of us witnessed some of the problems letting sexual perverts serve
can cause.

In our platoon of infantry a replacement platoon sergeant joined the unit, Troop B, 2nd Squadron, 17th Cavalry, 101st Airborne Division. He did his duties well enough until one day one of our Vietnamese scouts complained the sergeant had made a pass at him. The sergeant was promptly removed from the unit. Had he not been removed, one of two results was highly likely: the Viet scout would have killed the sergeant, or the scout would have deserted.

Either event would have been very disruptive for a unit frequently closely engaged with the enemy.

Consequently, IMO, I a veteran of two tiours of fighting in 'Nam there's absolutely no place in the armed forces for these creatures.

No, not everyone has a right to serve in the armed forces. To begin with, persons too fat, too short, crippled or diseased may not serve, because they'd interfere with the effective operation of the armed forces.

How can one be a lawmaker when one is a lawbreaker? Sodomy is against natural law. The Swiss are contemplating doing away with incest laws - are we next? We must rid ourselves of the lawbreaking Sodomites and their enablers/apologists once and for all.

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